Ignition starter control



L. G. PARKER IGNITION STARTER CONTROL March "i0, 1193@ Filed. July 25, 1954- Pntenfed Mnn 1o, 1936 UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICEL eralM otors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation oi' Delaware Application July 25, 1934, Serial No. 736,825

6 Claims.

This invention relates to switches for controiling the electrical circuits of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to engine and cranking circuits.

It is one of theobjects of the present invention to provide a switch oi' compact and durable construction by which the ignition circuits and engine starting circuits can be connected to current source such as the storage battery or by which the engine starting circuit only may be connected to the battery. The switch remains in the lastmentioned circuit-making position so long `as the switch-actuating member is held. in that position by the operator; but if released, the switch returns to oii position automatically through the use of a spring.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment oi the present invention is clearly shown. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale o1' a switch embodying the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are left-hand and right-hand side views respectively of la coupling member which connects the switch actuator with-a contact carrier.

Figs. 4 and 5 are left-hand and right-hand side views of the contact carrier, Fig. 4 including a sectional view of the switch taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 including removable switch contact.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are wiring diagrams showing respectively the oil, cranking and ignition and cranking positions of the switch.

Referring to Fig. 1 numeral`20 designates a metal dash or instrument board of an automobile. 'I'he dash 2U is provided with an opening through which projects a tubular frame 2| cooperating with a nut 22 for clamping the frame to the dash. Frame 2| receives a tubular lock sleeve 23 retained against an internal shoulder 24 of the frame 2| by a lug 25 `struck inwardly from the side wall of the i'rame 2| to enter a longitudinal slot 26 provided by the sleeve 23 in order to prevent the latter from turning or moving longitudinally. The sleeve 23 'rotatably supports ya key cylinder 21 carrying a plurality of plungers 2l which are received, asindicated by the dot-dash linesat 28a.'V by a longitudinal slot 29 provided bythe sleeve 23. When a suitable `key `n in inserted in the cylinder' 21 the plungers 2l will be withdrawn from the slot 29 so that cylinder 21 may be turned. Cylinder 21 is retained within the sleeve 23 by a suitable retaining washer 3| which is received by a groove 32 provided by the cylinder 21.

The frame 2| is attached to a plate 40 which is 5 attached to and provides a closure for the lefthand end of a cup-shaped switch case 4 the end wall 42 of which is apertured to receive one or more non-conducting bosses 43 integral with a` stationary contact supporting block 44. As 10 shown the boss 43 surrounds a metal insert 45 which provides a terminal at its right-hand end and a switch contact at its left-hand end. The end wall 42 is apertured to receive also a ferrule 46 to which may be attached a flexible metal 15 conduit surrounding and protecting a wire for making connections between the switch and an ignition coil. As the conduit and wire form no part oi present invention they are not shown except that the wire is shown in wiring diagrams of 20 Figs. 6, '1 and 8.

The stationary contact supporting block 44 carries contacts 50, 5|, 52 and 53. Contacts50 and 52 which are circular are connected respectively with the storage battery 55 and with a ground 56, 25 as shown in Fig. 6. Contacts 5| and 53, which are elongated, are connected respectively with a wire 51 leading to the ignition coil or circuit and with a wire 58 leading to a switch 59 which is connected with the magnet coils 6| and 52 of an elec- 30 tromagnetic switch 50. The switch 60 includes contacts 54 and 65 connected respectively with the storage battery 55 and a starting motor 61, and a movable switch contact E5 carried by the solenoid armature 68 of the switch. 'The coil 5| 35 is grounded at 69 and coil 62 is connected withl contact 56.

'I'he circuits illustrated in Fig. 6 are controlled by a movable switch contact 10 of triangular i'ormation illustrated in dot-dash lines in Flg.6 40 and in full lines in Fig. 5. The contact 10 is supported by the rotatable contact carrier 1| provided with a triangular recess 12 so shaped as to permit the triangular contact 10 to iit somewhat loosely therein. The carrier 1| which is 45 made ol molded insulated material carries a metal insert 13 having a shank of reduced diameter 14 which extends through acentral hole in the contact 10. The rlght-handend oi the shank 14 is riveted over at 15 so as to provide a |50 yshoulder which limits separation ofthe contact 10 from the carrier 1| A coil spring which surrounds a circular boss 11 carrying the insert 13, presses its left-hand end against the carrier 1|. and itsright-hand end against theend wall il fi/the key cylinder or switch-actuating member 21 by a coupling member 88 also made of molded insulating materialand so shaped as to provide a recess8| for receiving a projection 82 integral with the key cylinder 21, and provided with an insert 88 which provides a pin extending into afhole 8l provided by the key'cylinder. Thus the coupler 88 is'connected with the key cylinder 21. Coupler 88 is also provided with a recess 85 which is somewhatiike-a keyhole in shape and receives a corresponding boss 88 extending from the adjacent face of the carrier 1|. Thus the carrier 1| and coupling 88 are operatively connected. 'Ihe coupler 88 is provided with an arculate row of depressions' 91l cooperating with suitably spaced detentsprovided by the plate 88, one oi?V the detents being shown at-88. Due. to the spring 16 which urges the contact 10 toward the stationary contact block 44 and the contact car- Y rier 1| and the coupler 88 toward the switch cover plate I8, there is yielding cooperation between i* the detent bosses 88 and the edges oi the material of the `carrier 88surrounding the recesses 91. 'I'hus the switch may be yieldingly retained in certain of its operating positions.

In order to start the engine it is necessary 'to connect the battery with the ignition circuit and. the control circuit. This is accomplished by the key 38 which moves the contact 18 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 8.

In this position it is'clear that the battery will be connected with the ignition contact 5| and with the engine starter contact 53. Switch 88- is I one which is closed by the engine throttle actuatoror accelerator pedal. When switch 88 is closed current will ow from the battery through the magnet windings 8| .and 62 to eiIect the amature 88 and the closing of the switch 8l, 88 and 88 about when this occurs current will iiow directly through the battery to the starting motor and the coil 82 will beshort clrcuited., Coils 8| and 82 are so designed that the energization is required to attract the amature 88 into its switch-closing position. The coil 8| alone is sufiicient to maintain the armature 88 in switch closing position. Consequently during the engine starting operation very little current is diverted from the motor 81, coil 8| being a highresistance winding. When the Vengine starts, when being cranked by the motor 81, engine suction will effect the opening of the switch 58. As switch 58 does not per se constitute a part of the present ,invention it is shown only diagrammaticaliy.

To stop the engine the operator turns the contact 18 back to the position shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted in this position wire 61 is connected to ground 58. If the wire 81 is encased in a suitable armor or metal conduit it is apparent that the grounding ofthe wire 81 'will make it more difficult to establish. a connection between the battery and theV ignition circuit without the use of the switch.

The switch has still another position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. In this position contact 18, the battery contact 88 is connected only with the starter contact 88 so that the enginemay be cranked with the ignition turned of! whenever it is desired to break the engine loose from congealed oil when preparing to start in cold weather. The switch 18 must` be held in this position by the operator because as soon as the operator releasesthe key 88, a coil spring |88 will restore the contact carrier 1| to the on position. The spring |88 is confined within anl -annular recess provided between the carrier 1| and the coupler 88. One end |8| of the spring |88 is received by a suitable hole in the side wall of the case 4|` as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. 'I'he other end |82 of the spring |88 is shaped like a hook and extends through an eye provided by the lug 88 and into another arcuate recess |84 provided by the carrier 1|; the extreme end portion |85 o1 the spring |88 is received by a recess |88 extending from the recess |88. It will be'notedthat the turning of the contact 18 in a counterclockwise direction from the of! position shown in Fig.' 6 to that shown Fig. will cause the spring'hook |82 to be moved counterclockvwise around the axis of rotation of the carrier 1|. Thereby causing the spring to be stressed beyond its initial state oi stress. thereby requiring the operator to retain his grip on the key- 88 in order to maintain the switch in the position shown in Fig. 7. When the operator releases the key 88 the spring hook will return to its normal position against the lug 88 andwill carry with it the contact carrier 1|. Any ftendency of the carrier 1| to over travel in a clockwise direction `on being returned to of! position by the spring |88 is resisted by the cooperation of certain detent bosses 88 with certain detent recesses 81 of the coupler 88.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In an electrical system for an automotive vehicle in which circuit provisions are made for engine running ignition, engine starting ignition, and engine cranking without engine ignition, acircuit controller for selectively perfecting the several circuits, said controller comprising in combination; a casing having an inwardly extending lug; a contact carrier rotatably supported within the housing and having a peripheral notch to provide a pair of stops, on the carrier, and said stops adapted to engage the lug to limit the rotary movement of the carrier over the terminal support; a bridging member provided by the carrier and movable into engagement with xed contaicts; means for actuating the carrier; and a coiled spring having one end anchored in a hole provided by the casing and the other end hooked over the lug, saidI hooked end adapted to extend into a recess provided by the carrier for effecting movement of the carrier throughout a portion only of the entire range of movement.

2. A circuit controller comprising in combination; a casing having an inwardly extending lug; a terminal support with iixed contacts carried by the casing; a ycontact carrier having a circular notch to receive the lug and limit rotary movement ofY the contact carrier over the terminal carrier, said carrier being provided on one side with a boss having a notch and a cavity on its periphery and provided with a projection extending from its face; a plate having a boss provided with a recess on its face, said recess adapted to receive the projection oi.' the carrier to provide a driving connection between the carrier and plate and said plate and carrier when in a driving relation the bosses of the plate and carrier provide an annular groove between same; means for actuating the plate, al bridging member supported by the carrier and movable into engagement with the fixed contact; a spring for urging the bridging member toward the terminal support and for maintaining the driving relation between the carrier and plate and the driving relation between the actuator and the plate; and a second spring located Within the annular groove and anchored relative to the casing so that one end of the second mentioned spring is capable of extending into lthe cavity of the carrier for eil'ecting movement ofthe plate throughout a portion only of its entire range of movemen 3. A circuit controller comprising in combination; a casing; a terminal support with fixed contacts carried by the casing; a plurality of rotatable members of insulating material formed with bosses and provided with provisions on the faces thereof to form a driving relation between same, and said members when in theidrving relation the bosses of the rotatable members provide an annular groove; means for actuating one of the rotatable members; a bridging contact plate carried by the other rotatable member and movable into engagement with the xed contacts; a spring interposed between the contact plate and the second mentioned rotatable member for urging the contact plate against the terminal support and for maintaining the driving relation of the rotatable members, but permitting axial movement of the members relative to each other; means formed on the casing cooperating with one of the rotatable members to limit the rotary movement of the members within the casing; and a second spring located within the groove formed by the bosses of the rotatable members and anchored relative to the casing so that one end of the spring will engage one of the rotatable members for effecting movement of the rotatable members after the members have been moved a certain distance of their entire range of movement.

4. In an electrical system for an automotive vehicle in which circuit provisions are made for engine running ignition, engine starting ignition, and engine cranking without engine ignition, a circuit controller i'or selectively perfecting the several circuits, said controller comprising in combination; a casing having an inwardly extending lug; a terminal support with ilxed contacts carried by the casing, a contact carrier having a circular notch to provide a pair of shoulders and a recess located intermediate the shoulders, said shoulders adapted to engage the lug to limit the movement of the contact carrier over the terminal support; a bridging member provided by the carrier and movable into engagement with the fixed contacts; means for actuating the carrier; and a coiled spring having one end anchored to the case and the other end hooked about the lug and extending into the recess for effecting movement oi the carrier throughout a portion only oi' its entire range of movement. l

5. An electric switch comprising in combination, a housing having an inwardly extending projection, a xed contact support carried by the housing, a movable contact member, a rotatable member for driving the movable contact member, means for imparting partial rotations in opposite directions to the rotatable member, and a spring located within the housing and having one end anchored to the housing and the other end hooked over the projection, said hooked end adapted to extend into a recess provided by the rotatable member when same is moved in one direction only, whereby the spring will resist movement of the rotatable member from a normal position to an operative position.

6. An electric switch, comprising in combination, a casing having an inwardly extending lug, said casing insulatingly supporting a plurality of fixed contacts, a movable contact member, a rotatable member for actuating the movable contact member and having a peripheral notch to provide a pair of stops cooperating with the lug to limit the movement of the rotatable member in either direction, means for imparting rotations in opposite directions to the rotatable member, and a spring having one end anchored to the casing and the other end hooked over the lug, said hooked end adapted to extend into a recess provided by the rotatable member when moved in one direction and tending to resist movement of the rotatable member in that direction only. LESLIE O. PARKER. 

